8/11/2024–|Last updated: 11/8/202408:54 PM (Mecca time)
Israel banned its soldiers from traveling to the Netherlands following tensions and riots in the capital, Amsterdam, sparked by racist chants by fans of the Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv football team against the Arabs. While the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the chants, an Israeli plane headed to Amsterdam to evacuate the team’s fans.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said, “According to an assessment of the situation, it was decided to ban flights to the Netherlands for all army officers until further notice.”
The decision came after tensions sparked by racist and obscene chants launched by Maccabi fans against the Arabs, and chaos and vandalism in Amsterdam following their team’s match with Ajax Amsterdam in the European League, at midnight on Friday.
The riots included an attack on the Palestinian flag, tearing it down, and chants against the Palestinians.
Prohibition of gatherings
In the Netherlands, the city of Amsterdam announced a ban on demonstrations for a period of 3 days, starting today, Friday. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Khalsema said that these events surprised the Amsterdam police because the security services did not classify the match against Ajax as high risk.
Khalsima announced the strengthening of security measures in the city after the riots and clashes that occurred. She said, “I feel ashamed” about the clashes, noting that a temporary ban on protests had been imposed.
Earlier today, Dutch police announced the arrest of 62 people and the injury of 10 people.
The police stated – in a post on the “X” social networking site – that they had begun a major investigation into the multiple violent incidents. The publication did not provide further details about those injured or detained in the violent events that occurred last night.
A statement issued by the capital’s municipality, the police, and the Public Prosecution Office said that the night after the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi was “very turbulent, with violent incidents targeting Maccabi supporters.”
Video clips circulated on social media platforms showed a large number of Israeli fans chanting anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans. As a result, fistfights occurred between the two parties.
Before the start of the match, other video clips showed the Israeli fans provoking the Dutch fans in the stands, by refusing to observe a minute of silence in mourning for the victims of the Valencia floods in Spain. Rather, they lit fireworks during that minute while the rest of the fans were silent.
Activists considered this behavior a response to Spain’s position that recognizes the State of Palestine, denounces the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, and rejects the buying and selling of weapons with Israel.
Earlier today, Amsterdam authorities said that rioters “actively sought to attack and assault Israeli fans… and in multiple places in the city, fans were attacked.”
The police had to intervene several times, protect the Israeli fans and escort them to hotels. Despite the heavy police presence in the city, Israeli fans were injured, news agencies reported.
Palestinian condemnation
For its part, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the Israelis’ anti-Arab chants and the attack on the symbolism of the Palestinian flag in the capital, Amsterdam.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “We condemn the anti-Arab chants and the barbaric actions carried out by fans of one of the racist Israeli football clubs in Amsterdam over the course of 3 consecutive days.”
He explained that these actions included assaulting the Palestinian flag and taking it down from some places that symbolize support for the Palestinian right in the face of the crimes of occupation and genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called on the Dutch government to investigate the rioters, and to protect Palestinians and Arabs from these settlers and Israeli soldiers who went to the Netherlands to convey their racist ideas and crimes to European capitals, stressing its rejection of violence in all its forms.
It also warned of the escalation of racist ideology and practices that these racist groups are trying to pass on, which constitutes hostility to Palestinian identity and symbolism.
For its part, the United Nations expressed its concern about the clashes that took place in Amsterdam. “We have seen these disturbing reports,” said Jeremy Lawrence, spokesman for its human rights office, adding, “No one should be subjected to discrimination or violence on the basis of their national, religious, ethnic, or any other basis.”
Evacuation
On the other hand, the Israeli Air Navigation Authority announced that the first plane designated to return fans from the Netherlands took off from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to return fans.
A statement issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that “the cruel images of the attack on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be ignored” and that Netanyahu “views the horrific incident with the utmost seriousness.”
In the statement, Netanyahu’s office called on the Dutch government to take “strong and swift measures” against those involved. He added that he called for increased security for the Jewish community in the Netherlands.
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